by Katie, an Intended Mom
When our journey began, I was a full-time NICU nurse and my husband was serving active duty in the Air Force. He was stationed in Texas, which is how we met. After dating for a year, we got married and were excited to start building a family.
But because of my history with ovarian cancer, we knew our path to parenthood would look different. Adoption and surrogacy were our options, and after careful thought, we realized surrogacy felt right for us. Once we found Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, we immediately knew we were in the best hands. From creating our profile and matching with our surrogate to the delivery, every step of the process was handled with care and compassion.
Finding “The One”
We matched with our surrogate shortly after posting our profile. At first, we hoped to find someone local, but after our first Zoom meeting, we just knew she was the one. She was also a nurse, and that shared background created an instant connection. She was warm, easy to talk to, and had such a kind heart. It was clear she genuinely wanted to help a family grow. We were so thankful she chose us.
Moments We’ll Never Forget
Some of our favorite memories from the journey were the appointments we were able to attend. Since we didn’t live close, I couldn’t be there for all of them. The ones I did attend, however, will stay with me forever. One especially meaningful moment was the night before delivery, sitting together in the hospital room, feeling our baby boy move around and knowing we’d meet him soon.
The Unexpected Turns
If I had to choose one thing that surprised me most, it would be how quickly the journey went. The first trimester felt slow, but after that, time just flew by. Everything went so smoothly. Our embryo took on the first transfer, our surrogate had minimal morning sickness, and baby was growing beautifully.
We knew she’d deliver by scheduled cesarean at 39 weeks, but at 28 weeks, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Thankfully, her blood sugar stayed perfectly normal. Then, at 36 weeks and 6 days, her blood pressure suddenly spiked, and her doctor decided it was time to deliver. The OB called to tell me we’d be meeting our baby the next morning at 7 a.m.
I caught the first flight I could and made it just in time for delivery. My husband arrived later that day. Our son was small and spent a little time in the nursery, but today he’s healthy, happy, and perfect in every way.
Reflections and Advice
Every surrogacy journey has its ups and downs — and that’s okay. As a nurse, I knew that birth rarely goes exactly as planned, but the beauty is in the outcome and the people you meet along the way.
Our journey gave us not only a healthy baby boy, but also a lifelong friend in our surrogate. She will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we’ll forever be grateful for the incredible gift she gave our family.
